Fork grids for looms



Feb. 7, 1956 s. HUFFMAN ET AL 2,733,735

FORK GRIDS FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 11, 1953 INVENTORS SQITZLJQZ L. Huffhzam Rib/amt! J [I'M 1'12,

1w BFZMLW ATTORNEY United gta s P315911:

FORK GRIDS non LOOMS Sam L. Hulfman and Richard J. Irwin, Greenville, S. C. Application December 11, 1953, Serial No. 397,730

1 Claim. or. 139-379 Our invention relates to improvements in fork grids for looms. I

An important object of the invention is to provide a fork grid which is extremely simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fork grid having smooth contact surfaces for the weft thread,

which surfaces are free from rough or sharp edges which will tend to accumulate lint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fork grid which is formed entirely of wire, and which maybe readily adjusted longitudinally when secured into position upon the lay, and the individual portions of which may be readily adjusted for properly receiving between them the tines of the fork.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate the like parts throughout the same. Figure 1 is a prospective view of a fork grid for looms embodying our invention,

Figure 2 isa plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the fork grid,

Figure 4 is a similar view showing one of the vertical elements or bars adjusted from the next vertical element or bar,

Figure 5 is a similar view, showing thebody portion of the fork grid horizontally adjusted from the attaching element, 7

The sides 13 are slightly bent inwardly near their longitudinal centers, providing recesses R which engage the weft and will oppose the improper downward movement of the weft before it breaks, but'not interfering 13 and 13', when the weft is not broken. The pivoted tine is held by engagement with the weft so that its top cannot move down to render the stop mechanism active.

A particular advantage of our device is that it is bodily horizontally adjustable within limits, Figure 5, as the sides 13 and 13 may be moved from each other, since the wire is bendable although it is suitably stiff to retain its shape under working conditions. slightly resilient and hence when the sides 13 and 13 are adjusted horizontally sufliciently these sides will remain in the adjusted position. In a similar manner, any one side may be shifted toward or from the next side, Figure 4. By this means, the several sides are adjustable so that the tines of the fork will pass into the spaces between the sides. The inward bending of the several sides near their longitudinal center, provide outer recesses R, which tend to prevent the Weft from moving downwardly improperly before the weft is broken, but do not interfere with their downward movement with the weft breaks.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without the departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

A fork grid. for looms formed from a single section of wire which is bendable and will hold its shape when bent, said grid comprising a pair of intermediate U-shaped a substantially vertical side and substantially horizontal .Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of v Figure 3,

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the fork grid. In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferredembodiment of our invention, the

numeral 10 designates a fork grid as a whole, and this grid is mounted upon the lay of the loom, to move therewith, as is well known, as shown in Patent 900,591. This fork grid is formed entirely of a sectionof wire 11. This wire is preferably formed of stainless steel although I contemplate using other wire, such as iron wire, which is chrome plated. The stainless steel wire is smooth and highly polished and will not tarnish in use. The wire is circular in cross section, and is free from sharp edges or projections which might catch the'weft and cause the accumulation of lint.

In making the device, the section of wire is bent into vertical U-shaped portions 12, each of which includes an upstanding side 13 and horizontal ends 14. The ends 14 are connected by portions 15. One end 14 is connected with aside 13', corresponding to the sides 13. i The wire "loop receives a screw or bolt which is employed to hold the fork grid in place upon the loom.

ends carried by the side, the end of one U-shaped portion leading to and connected with the corresponding end of the companion U-shaped portion, said sides and ends being opposed and horizontally spaced, end portions, each end portion comprising a substantially vertical side and a substantially horizontal end, the end of each end portion leadingto and connected with the end of the next intermediate U-shaped portion, the vertical sides and ends vertical sides and ends of the intermediate U-shaped portions, the vertical side of one outer end portion having its end bent upon itself for providing a substantially vertical extension extending longitudinally of such side and having a generally horizontal arm provided at its free end with an eye for receivinga bolt or the like for attachment to the lay of the loom, the other outer end portion being free from attachment with the lay, said sides having exterior recesses to receive the weft, the arrangement being such that all sides may be adjusted horizontally as a unit from said eye by bending and inclining the substantially vertical extension or a selected side may be horizontally adjusted from the next side by bending the connections between the ends of such sides, the side or sides remaining in the adjusted position.

References Cited in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,253 OBrien Mar. 8, 1892 900,591 Rhoades Oct. 6, 1908 913,196 Burgess Feb. 23, 1909 916,617 Scott ...'...Mar. 30, 1909 2,226,280 Bahan Dec. 24, 1940 Patented Feb. 7, 1956 v The wire is only 

